Women program ENIAC's demonstration

West became a mathematician and programmer whose geodetic models contributed to the technology underlying GPS.

She used satellite observations and numerical computation to refine an oblate, irregular model of the planet.

Orbit calculations, error correction and large datasets were essential long before a navigation device could report a position.

West's contribution remained little known publicly for decades, illustrating how technical teamwork can hide key individuals.

The large electronic computer demonstrated that many numerical procedures could be executed at unprecedented speed.

The machine was commissioned for artillery tables, connecting mathematical innovation with military power.

ENIAC required decomposition of equations, planning of data flow, testing and debugging before stored-program languages existed.

The lunar module reached the Moon after a mission dependent on trajectory design, numerical simulation, navigation and real-time calculation.

Johnson calculated and checked trajectories and helped design procedures for synchronizing spacecraft in lunar orbit.

Mainframes, onboard guidance, ground teams and hand-prepared backup charts formed one distributed calculating system.